Rotary power device with motion conversion means



April 5, 1966 l. JEPSON 3,244,916

ROTARY POWER DEVICE WITH MOTION CONVERSION MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Original Filed Nov. 13, 1962 Ix/AK depod ATTORNEY April 1966 l. JEPSON3,244,916

ROTARY POWER DEVICE WITH MOTION CONVERSION MEANS Original Filed Nov. 15,1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. WAK ua-p m BY I zorge ATTozMEY UnitedStates Patent 3,244,916 ROTARY POWER DEVICE WITH MOTION CONVERSION MEANSIvar Jepson, Sister Bay, Wis., assignor to Sunheam Corporation, Chicago,lll., a corporation of Illinois Original appiication Nov. 13, 1962, Ser.No. 237,239, now Patent N 3,206,850, dated Sept. 21, 1965. Divided andthis application Nov. 10, 1964, Ser. No. 410,115 Claims. (Cl. 3l080) Thepresent application is a division of copending lepson application SerialNo. 237,239, filed November 13, 1962, now Patent No. 3,206,850, andassigned to the same assignee as the instant application. It relates toan electric appliance of the type in which a prime mover drives anoscillating cutter, and more specifically to such an appliance usefulfor removing beards or face hair 'as well as for removing hair from thearms, legs and other portions of the human body, and is generallyreferred to as an electric dry shaver. More particularly, the presentinvention is in the nature of an improvement over the electric dryshaver disclosed and claimed in copending lepson and Schuesslerapplication, Serial No. 109,551, filed May 12, 1961, now Patent No.3,196,539, and assigned to the same assignee as the present application.

The electric dry shaver disclosed in the above-mentioned copendingJepson and Schuessler application is one in which the hair to beremoved, such as the beard, enters the cutting area through a network ofsmall holes in a curved perforated comb. An oscillating cuttercomprising a plurality of spaced parallel blades travels back and forthacross the comb at high speed and is thrown by centrifugal force againstthe inside surface of the comb, thus providing a very satisfactorycutting action with the comb. The cutter blades float in a cutter headand shaft assembly that is also oscillated by a powerful electric motorwith the cutter blades oscillating on the order of 8500 cycles perminute. In the above-mentioned copending Iepson and Schuesslerapplication, the oscillating shaft for the cutting blades is supportedin spaced bearings and the manufacturing cost of such a shaver issubstantial due to the requirement of bearings which must be carefullyaligned and which must either be lubricated or comprise bearings of theself-lubricating nature. It would be desirable to provide an arrangementin which the bearings for the oscillating cutter shaft could becompletely eliminated, thereby eliminating the cost of such bearings,the more complicated assembly thereof and all misalignment problems withrespect thereto.

It will be appreciated that in a shaver in which the cutting blades areoscillated, at each end of the stroke the blades must come to a stop andthen movement in the opposite direction must take place. This means thatat each end of the stroke it is necessary to overcome the inertia of themoving parts which are momentarily in a stationary condition. It wouldbe desirable to provide an arrangement wherein it is unnecessary toovercome the inertia of the blade assembly at the ends of theoscillating strokes to move it in the opposite direction, but in somemanner to provide an energy storage arrangement whereby energy storedduring a portion of the operating stroke is released to overcome thisinertia for the return stroke. Moreover, it would also be desirable toprovide some sort or resilient stop whereby the blade assembly whichstops momentarily at each end of the stroke is cushioned to such stop.

In oscillating shavers of the type disclosed in the abovementionedJepson and Schuessler application, to insure the proper balance of themovable portions of the cutter head assembly it was necessary to providecounterbalancing means commonly in the form of a counterweight 3 ,244,91 6 Patented Apr. 5, 1966 'ice of some sort which, of course, increasedthe mass of the oscillating structure, and, secondly, produced a spaceproblem in making provision for such counterbalancing means which isusually in the form of a weight of some sort. It would be desirable toprovide an arrangement which permits one to eliminate suchcounterbalancing means.

In the dry shaver of the oscillating cutter type, particularly oneemploying a plurality of blades, such as disclosed in theabove-mentioned copending Jepson and Schuessler application, a verypowerful motor is required to oscillate the cutters and supportingmechanism therefor at the high speeds desired for proper cuttingoperation. It would be desirable to provide an improved power systemwhereby with the same comb structure and the same cutter structure apower reduction of between twenty and fifty percent could be obtained.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a newand improved power unit especially useful for use in an electric dryshaver.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an appliance ofthe type employing an oscillating mechanism wherein the conventionalbearings for the oscillating mechanism may be completely eliminated withthe consequent elimination of the bearing misalignment problem.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new andimproved appliance employing a cutting mechanism whereby the samecutting action is obtained with a reduction in power input of betweentwenty and fifty per-cent.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a cuttermechanism for an electric dry shaver in which the lubrication problem iscompletely eliminated.

Still another object of the present invention resides in an electric dryshaver having a rotating motor feeding power to an oscillating cuttermechanism wherein the requirement to overcome the inertia of the cutterblade assembly at each end of its stroke when the direction of motion ischanged is eliminated and instead stored energy is utilized to act as acushioned stop and, moreover, overcomes the inertia with respect tomovement in the opposite direction.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide anoscillating cutter mechanism for an electric dry ShQJVCI in which thecounterbalancing problem is completely eliminated.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improvedelectric dry shaver which will give years of.trouble-free service andwhich can be manufactured and assembled at a greatly reduced cost.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent as the following description proceeds and the features ofnovelty which, characterize the invention will be pointed out withparticularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of thisspecification.

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference may behad to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, longitudinal sectional view taken along a planepassing substantially through the axes of the shafts of the rotatingmotor and oscillating cutter of an electric dry shaver embodying thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on line F2. of FIG. 1 assuming thatFIG. 1 shows the complete structure;

FIG. 3 is a sectional Iview taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1 again assumingthat FIG. 1 shows the complete structure;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 44 of FIG. 1 assuming that FIG.1 shows the complete structure;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the supporting meansfor the oscillating shaft of the cutter mechanism; and

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the oscillating bladesupporting mechanism and the means for supporting the same in theelectric dry shaver of the present invention.

Briefly, the present invention is concerned with an improved oscillatingcutter assembly for an electric dry shaver wherein the bearings for theoscillating cutter shaft are completely eliminated and instead the endsof this cutter shaft are resiliently mounted. in the preferredembodiment the ends of the cutter shaft are secured to blocks of arubberlike material whereby bearings and lubrication problems arecompletely eliminated, the alignment problem is eliminated and a greatlyreduced power requirement is obtained since energy stored in theresilient support is fed back into the power system at each end of theoscillating stroke, thereby overcoming the inertia inherent in a devicewhich must stop and reverse its direction of movement. By eliminatingthe bearings a sound reduction of the order of twenty-five to thirtypercent results. The resilient means for mounting the oscillating shaftis preferably chosen to have a natural frequency of vibration whichapproaches the frequency of oscillation of the cutter mechanism.Moreover, the resilient support means must be such as to be unaffectedby the various shaving lotions that might be employed and unaffected byozone which is produced with a commutator-type motor. Due tothe resonantcondition and the fact that energy is stored in the resilient supportsand is released to overcome the inertia of the oscillating shaft andblade assembly at each end of the stroke, a substantial reduction inpower require ments results. This reduction is between twenty and fiftypercent. Moreover, the resilient mounting means for the oscillatingshaft effectively provides a stop to cushion the oscillating cutters ateach end of the stroke. Moreover, it is unnecessary to counterbalancethe cutter assembly with this type of arrangement.

Referring now to the drawings, the electric dry shaver embodying thepresent invention is generally designated by the reference numeral 10.Since the present invention is primarily concerned with the oscillatingcutter mechanism and the power train and power supplying mechanismconnected therewith, only fragmentary views of the entire shaver areshown. It should be understood, however, that this shaver mightotherwise be very similar to that disclosed in the above-mentionedJepson and Schuessler application. Moreover, the general construction ofthe shaver may be very similar to that disclosed and claimed in acopending application Serial No. 322,795, Jepson, Schuessler, Jacksonand Jensen, filed November 12, 1963, also assigned to the same assigneeas the instant application. Essentially, the shaver 10 comprises acutting mechanism generally designated at 11 comprising a plurality ofcutting blades 12, only one of which is visible in the drawings,coacting with a comb or stationary cutting member 13. The comb andcutting mechanism are associated with a suitable casing comprising threeparts 14, 15 and 16, the comb 13 preferably comprising a substantialportion of the surface of the casing. The particular construction of thecasing portions 14, 15 and 16 forms no part of the present invention butmay be very similar to the corresponding parts disclosed in thecopending Jepson and Schuessler application Serial No. 109,551 referredto above. Housed within the casing, comprising portions 14, 15 and 16',is a suitable electric motor, generally designated at 18, which isadapted to be connected by suitable driving means, generally designatedat 1-9, with the cutter mechanism 11 in order to cause oscillation ofthis cutter mech anism at a speed of the order of 8500 cycles perminute.

As is fully disclosed in the aforesaid Jepson et a1. copendingapplications, the casing for the electric shaver is of boxlikeconfiguration so that it may readily be held in the hand of the user andno further discussion of this feature is included herein. Moreover, thecasing is manufactured in three sections, as described in the aforesaidcop-ending applications, in order to facilitate assembly of the electricdry shaver 10. Actually, the casing section 14, preferably molded from asuitable plastic material, is a rectangular cup-shaped member having anopen top and a closed bottom (not shown). The casing sections 15 and 16are effectively end caps which may be molded of a suitable plasticmaterial in the same manner as the casing section 14. Actually, in anembodiment built in accordance with the present invention, the end cap15 was molded of a plastic material while the end cap 16 was made as adie casting of a suitable metal.

In accordance with the arrangement disclosed and claimed in Jepson etal. application Serial No. 322,795 referred to above, the shaver 10includes a molded insulating support or chassis 20 to which the cutterassembly 11 and the motor 18 are mounted in the manner describedhereinafter. When the member or chassis 20 is associated with the shaver10, it actually divides the shaver easing into two chambersa motorchamber 21 disposed beneath the chassis 20, as viewed in FIG. 1 of thedrawings, and a cutting chamber 22 disposed above the member 20. Theunderside of the chassis member 20 is provided with a pair of downwardlydirected spaced projecting portions 20a and 20b terminating in sphericalsurfaces for retaining spherical motor bearings 23 and 24, respectively.The portions 20a and 2% are provided with recesses 25 and 26,respectively, for receiving suitable oil wicks 27 preferably saturatedwith a suitable lubricant.

Between the projecting portions Zita and 20b of the chassis 20 is aportion defining a recess 28 for accommodating the armature 29 of themotor 18 which is supported on a shaft 30 journalled in the bearings 23and 24. The bearings 23 and 24 are secured within the spherical recessesdefined at the lower end of the projections 20a and 20b of the chassis20 by suitable bearing retainers 32 and 33, respectively, which therebyhold the motor 29 in assembled relationship with the chassis 20. Thehearing retainer 32, which might be termed the commutator end bearingretainer, is suitably secured to the chassis 20 by screws or otherfastening means 41 which actually extend through the chassis into tappedopenings in the end cap 15, thereby simultaneously securing the bearingretainer 32 and the end cap 15 in assembled relationship with thechassis 20. The bearing retainer 33, on the other hand, which might betermed the crank end bearing retainer, is secured to the chassis 241 bysuitable screws or fastening means 36, best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 ofthe drawings.

The chassis 20 is further provided with a downwardly projecting supportmember Ztic only a portion of which is shown in the drawings forsupporting suitable terminal pins whereby electrical connection may bemade for energizing the electric motor of the present invention. If itis desired to provide a separate switch built into the shaver housing asis shown in the above-mentioned Jepson and Schuessler application SerialNo. 109,551, then the projection 200 may support a suitable switchsupporting member which, in turn, may also support the electricalterminals.

The particular construction of the motor 18 forms no part of the presentinvention, but as disclosed in Jepson Patent No. 2,688,184 includes acommutator 39 with which is associated a brush terminal assembly 40(FIG. 1) suitably secured to the chassis 20 by fastening means, (notshown).

For the purpose of converting rotary motion of the motor shaft 30 tooscillating motion of the cutter assembly 11, the end of the motor shaft30 adjacent crank and bearing retainer 33 is provided with suitablecombined crank and counterweight means including a counterweight 43 anda crank pin 44. The crank pin 44 is connected to one end of a connectingrod 45 preferably formed of nylon which extends through an opening 46(FIGS. 1, 2 and 6) in the chassis 20. The motor 18 includes theconventional field structure very similar to that shown in theabove-mentioned Iepson patent. Only the laminations 47 are visible inFIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings. These laminations include a portionsurrounding the armature 29, as is well understood by those skilled inthe art, and a field winding (not shown) surrounds a portion of theselaminations. As is disclosed in the copending Jepson et al. applicationSerial No. 322,795, the field structure including the laminations 47 issupported from chassis 20 by a pair of bail clamps 48, which in turn aresupported by a molded bail hanger 49 resting on the top of chassis 20.Actually, the chassis 20 is provided with suitable openings throughwhich the bail clamps 48 may extend to engage the bail hanger 49.

To support the chassis 220 and the motor and cutting mechanism mountedthereon with respect to the casing, the chassis 20 is provided with aperipheral laterally projecting flange 28d which is adapted to engage acooperating ledge 50 defined around the periphery of the open end of thecup-shaped casing portion 14, as best shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4 ofthe drawings. It will be appreciated that the subassembly comprising thechassis 20, to which have been secured the armature and field structuredescribed heretofore of motor 18, as well .as the cutting mechanism 11to be described and the end caps 15 and 16, is then associated with thecup-shaped casing section 14 by inserting the depending portion thereofinto this casing section, whereupon the latter can then be secured tosuitable means supported by the bail clamps 48 to complete the assembly.

In order to support suitable comb locks (not shown) for retaining thecomb 13 in position, as disclosed in the above-mentioned Jepson patent,there is provided a comb lock spring 51 (FIGS. 1 and 6) which isinterposed between the chassis 2t) and the bail hanger 49. If desired,the chassis may be provided with integral projections, such as 20a (FIG.1), for temporarily retaining the comb lock spring 51 in position duringassembly. It will be understood that the bail clamps 48 clamp the comblock spring between chassis 20 and bail hanger 49 upon final assembly ofall parts.

As in the above-mentioned copending Iepson and Schuessler applicationSerial No. 109,551, the cutter assembly 11 includes a cutter shaft 52disposed in spaced parallel relationship with the motor shaft 30. Inorder resiliently to support a plurality of cutter blades, such as 12,for oscillation with the cutter shaft 52, the latter is provided with aplurality of upwardly extending supports 53a, 53b, 53c and 53d which maybe identical with those disclosed in the above-mentioned copendingJepson and Schuessler application. These supports are of triangularshape and are rigidly secured to the cutter shaft 52. They are providedwith suitable slots to receive the cutter blades 12 and suitable bladesprings 61 therein in the same manner disclosed in the Jepson andSchuessler application referred to above. The details of a particularembodiment illustrating one arrangement of the supports is best shown inFIG. 6 of the drawings.

In accordance with the present invention, conventional bearings for theoscillating cutter shaft 52 have been completely eliminated and insteadopposite ends of this cutter shaft are knurled as indicated at 52a and52b (FIG. 5), and a pair of rectangular blocks of a resilient material,preferably a neoprene rubber, designated as 54 and 55, are securelybonded to the knurled portions 52a and 52b of shaft 52.

In order to support the oscillating shaft 52, the chassis 20 is providedwith a pair of upwardly projecting support portions 20 and 20g, each ofwhich is provided with an upwardly directed V-shaped notch 57 .and 58,respectively. These V-shaped notches 57 and 58 are respectively adaptedto receive therein the resilient supports 54 and 55 bonded to shaft 52.To clamp the resilient supports 54 and 55 into notches 57 and 58, theend caps 15 and 16 are provided with cooperating V- shaped notches 59and 60, respectively. Thus, end cap 15 is provided with a projection 15ahaving arcuately arranged comb supporting surfaces 15!). Moreover, thisprojection 15a is provided with the downwardly directed V-notch 59cooperating with the V-notch 57 in the support 20 so' as to clamp theresilient block of neoprene rubber 54 into fixed position relative tochassis 20. Similarly, the end cap 16 is provided with a projection 16ahaving a downwardly directed V-notch 60 whereby the resilient support 55may be clamped into position within the cooperating notches 58 and 60.End cap 16 is also provided with arcuately arranged comb supportingsurfaces leb (FIG. 3). As was described earlier, screws such as 41(FIGS. 1 and 4) clamp the end cap 15 to the chassis 20 simultaneouslyholding the commutator end bearing retainer 32 and, hence, the bearing23 in position and also clamping the resilient support 54 in fixedposition. Similarly, a pair of screws 62 (FIG. 2) are provided forclamping the end cap 16 to the chassis 20 and simultaneously clampingthe resilient support 55 for the oscillating shaft 52 in position.

The driving means 19 includes a combined crank and counterweightcomprising crank pin 6-3 and counterweight 64 secured to the end ofoscillating shaft 52 adjacent the crank end of motor shaft 30, theshafts and 52 being substantially coextensive. The crank pin 63 isadapted to be connected to the other end of connecting rod 45, thisconnecting rod passing through opening 46 in chassis 20.

In an electric shaver built in accordance with the present invention,the resilient blocks 54 and 55 had a natural frequency of vibration ofbetween 5500' and 7500 cycles per minute. These blocks were made ofneoprene rubber and had a Durometer hardness of between and 45. Thismaterial was resistant to ozone .gas, had a tensile breaking stress ofat least 3500 pounds and met many tests with respect to resiliency,compression set, elongation, and the like. The material should beresilient enough so as not excessively to increase the starting torqueand yet should have sufficient hardness to store a substantial amountof. energy when the blocks are stressed in torsion. With thisarrangement efficiency was increased in excess of twenty percent and thecost of manufacture and assembly was greatly reduced by the eliminationof bearings, by the elimination of bearing and shaft iburnishingpreviously required by the elimination of shaft bearing alignmentproblems, as well as by completely obviating any requirement forlubrication. Furthermore, it was unnecessary to counterbalance thecutter shaft assembly as heretofore required, thus further reducing themanufacturing cost.

It should be understood that instead of utilizing resilient blocks ofrubberlike material for storing energy other resilient means, such asresilient springs or the like, may be employed for this purpose inconnection with a rotary motor which supplies energy through a drivingmeans to an oscillating mechanism. An arrangement for storing energy inconnection with an oscillating cutter shaft utilizing compressionsprings for this purpose is shown in copending Jepson and Kukulskiapplication Serial No. 246,488, filed December 21, 1962, now Patent No.3,213,301, and assigned to the same assignee as the instant application.It should be understood that such resilient spring means might beemployed instead of the blocks 54 and or in addition thereto for storingenergy to be fed back into the power train at each end of theoscillating stroke.

In view of the detailed description set forth above, the operation ofthe electric shaver of the present invention will readily be understoodby those skilled in the art. As the electric motor 18 rotates, it causesoscillation of the cutter shaft 52 stressing the resilient blocks 54 and55 in torsion as the oscillating cutter mechanism moves from one end. ofits stroke to the other. Energy is stored in these resilient blocks asthe cutting mechanism moves to the end of its stroke. The blocks cushionthe mechanism to a stop and the stored energy in the resilient blocksthen overcomes the inertia of the moving parts and gives up this energyin producing movement in the opposite direction. Consequently, a smallermotor is required and much more eificient utilization of the output ofthe motor 18 is accomplished.

From the above description it will be apparent that without the energystorage means of the present invention very high bearing pressures willresult such as at the crank pins 44 and 63, etc., each time theoscillating cutter mechanism slows down or accelerates at the ends ofeach stroke. This is because of the substantial mass of the oscillatingparts. These high bearing pressures mean high friction losses and,hence, inefficient use of the energy available. By providing the energystorage means of the present invention associated with the oscillatingcutter shaft, the friction losses due to high bearing pressures aregreatly reduced. For example, upon deceleration the kinetic energy, byvirtue of the momentum of the mass of the oscillating system, will bestored in the energy storage means whereupon it is immediately availableto accelerate the mass at the time the direction of movement isreversed. Thus, less torque is required (from the prime mover and,consequently, lower bearing pressures are involved at the crank pins 44and 63. in other words, with the present invention more uniform bearingpressures throughout the operating stroke of the oscillating mass occur,and a more constant load is applied to the prime mover resulting inhigher efiiciency and, hence, less power consumption. If one assumedthat the oscillating cutting mechanism had Zero mass, then the use ofthe energy storage means in accordance with the present invention wouldbe undesirable since it would merely increase the load on the primemover and provide no benefits. Of course, since all oscillatingmechanical systems involve substantial mass, the desirable features ofthe present invention result.

As was pointed out above, the theoretical ideal condition would be tohave the energy storage means tuned to the frequency of oscillationproduced by the prime mover. It has been found, however, that thisrequires energy storage means of such stiffness that a practical primemover would not be able to produce sufficient torque to initiateoscillation of the system. For this reason the natural frequency of theenergy storage means is tuned to a frequency lower than the frequency ofoscillation of the oscillating cutter mechanism.

While there have been illustrated or described. several embodiments ofthe present invention, it should be understood that numerous changes andmodifications will occur to those skilled in the art, and it is intendedby the appended claims to cover all those changes and modificationswhich fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.

What is claimed as new and. desired to be secured by Letters Patent ofthe United States is:

1. In combination, power means including a rotatable power output shaft,driven means including an oscillating shaft, means interconnecting saidshafts to convert rotary motion of said rotatable shaft to oscillatingmo Cir shaft, means interconnecting said shafts to convert rotary motionof said rotatable shaft to oscillating motion of said oscillating shaft,a first rectangular block of rubber bonded to one end of saidoscillating shaft, a second rectangular block of rubber bonded to theother end of said oscillating shaft, means for clamping said blocks ofrubber in stationary position whereby oscillation of said oscillatingshaft causes said blocks of rubber to be stressed in torsion, saidrubber blocks storing energy from said prime mover when said oscillatingshaft is moved toward the extreme ends of its oscillating stroke andreturning energy to said oscillating shaft when moved away from theextreme ends of its oscillating stroke.

4. The appliance of claim 3 wherein the ends of said oscillating shaftare knurled and said blocks are bonded to said knurled portions.

5. The appliance of claim 3 wherein said blocks have a natural frequencyof vibration approaching the frequency of oscillation of said drivenmeans including said oscillating shaft.

6. The appliance of claim 3 wherein said blocks are formed of neoprenerubber having sufficient hardness to store a substantial amount ofenergy when said blocks are stressed in torsion but yet resilient enoughso as not excessively to increase the starting torque.

7. In combination a rotatable driving shaft, driven means including anoscillating shaft, means interconnecting said shafts to convert rotarymotion of said rotatable shaft to oscillating motion of said oscillatingshaft, energy storage means of resilient material surrounding saidoscillating shaft and bonded there, and means for restraining saidenergy storage means at positions radially spaced from said oscillatingshaft.

8. An appliance comprising power means including a rotatable poweroutput shaft, driven means including an oscillating shaft, meansinterconnecting said shafts to convert rotary motion of said rotatableshaft to oscillating motion of said oscillating shaft, energy storagemeans of resilient material surrounding said oscillating shaft andbonded thereto, and means for restraining said energy storage means atpositions radially spaced from said oscillating shaft, said energystorage means storing and giving up energy upon oscillation of saidoscillating shaft and also serving as bearing means for said oscillatingshaft.

9. The combination of a rotatable driving shaft, driven means includingan oscillating shaft, means interconnecting said shafts to convertrotary motion of said rotatable shaft to oscillating motion of saidoscillating shaft, a first energy storage means of resilient materialsurrounding said oscillating shaft and bonded thereto adjacent one endthereof, a second energy storage means of resilient material surroundingsaid oscillating shaft and bonded thereto adjacent the other endthereof, and means for restraining each of said energy storage means atpositions radially spaced from said oscillating shaft.

14). An appliance comprising power means including a rotatable poweroutput shaft, driven means including an oscillating shaft, meansinterconnecting said shafts to convert rotary motion of said rotatableshaft to oscillating motion of said oscillating shaft, energy storagemeans of resilient material surrounding said oscillating shaft andbonded thereto, said energy storage means effectively defining bearingmeans for said oscillating shaft, and means for restraining said energystorage means at points radially spaced from said oscillating shaft.

References (Jited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,583,877 5/1926Hahnemann et al. 73-92 X 2,263,625 11/1941 Gregg 74-75 2,844,958 7/1958Bennett et al. 7399 MILTON O. HIRSHFIELD, Primary Examiner.

ORIS L. RADER, Examiner.

C. W. DAWSON, Assistant Examiner.

8. AN APPLIANCE COMPRISING POWER MEANS INCLUDING A ROTATABLE POWEROUTPUT SHAFT DRIVEN, MEANS INCLUDING AN OSCILLATING SHAFT, MEANSINTERCONNECTING SAID SHAFTS TO CONVERT ROTARY MOTION OF SAID ROTATABLESHAFT TO OSCILLATING MOTION OF SAID OSCILLATING SHAFT, ENERGY STORAGEMEANS OF RESILIENT MATERIAL SURROUNDING SAID OSCILLATING SHAFT ANDBONDED THERETO AND MEANS FOR RESTRAINING SAID ENERGY STORAGE MEANS ATPOSITIONS RADIALLY SPACED FROM SAID OSCILLATING SHAFT, SAID ENERGYSTORAGE MEANS STORING AND GIVING UP ENERGY UPON OSCILLATING OF SAIDOSCILLATING SHAFT AND ALSO SERVING AS BEARING MEANS FOR SAID OSCILLATINGSHAFT.